Card holder



July 19, 1938. BRAUN 2,124,025

CARD HOLDER Filed March 18, 1957 BY I ATTORNEEQ INYENTOR.

Patented July 19, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIQE.

11 Claims.

This invention is an improved holder for cards and the like and although of great utility for the above indicated purpose wherein a card holder may be used, it is particularly adapted for use in holding and retaining the so-called defect cards used y railroads to indicate the condition of and any repairs that a car may require.

At the present time, when a railroad employee notes that a freight car is in bad order a card pro vided for this express purpose, is filled in, in ink or indelible pencil, with the necessary information. This card is then tacked to the body of the car with tacks or nails at what the employee may believe is a logical place for each card.

The result of the practice noted above is that the defect cards are often torn 01f and lost with the further result that the car may remain in service while defective, causing repeated complaints, and often, in actual loss to both the shipper and the railroad.

Further, the lack of uniformity in the placement of the defect cards often makes it necessary for the car inspector to search the car thoroughly before the card can be located and when the card is found it will often be so dilapidated and weather beaten as to be Wholly or partially illegible. v

The defect card normally has notations on both sides thereof and it is occasionally necessary that the card be removed for information of the carriers employees or for the entry of additional information thereon. It will be obvious that the usual and customary method of removing such cards tacked to the woodwork of the car 5 is to tear them ofi. This practice results in holes in the card, and the resulting illegibility of the information written thereon.

It will be obvious that a card holder to be practical in overcoming the objections to present practice noted above must be easy to attach, capable of uniform placement, must be substantial- 1y weather-proof and must infallibly retain the card without mutilating the same and be self-retaining, under the conditions of vibration and jarring to which freight cars are subjected.

The device shown on the attached drawing and set forth in detail in this specification and which represents my invention in preferred form fully meets the requirements set forth in the para- 5o graph above.

Additionally, this invention provides means whereby an inspector can note at a glance whether or not there is a defect card in the holder. It will be obvious that this invention provides a card holder of great utility which has a wide variety of uses in industry, in addition to those specifically set forth in connection with freight cars.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an inexpensive, practical holder for defective or bad order cards or the like which is adapted to be mounted on freight cars or other vehicles, preferably in a horizontal position, and which includes a base portion adapted to be permanently mounted, and a removable card-retaining portion composed of adjacent leaves or blanks having a tendency to press against each other; and further, to provide a removable card-retaining holder having a manually dep-ressible portion normally engaging the stationary portion to prevent undesirable removal of said holder and contained card.

On the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device as it appears when the insertable leaf portion is in its normally retained position in the base plate or holder, a part of the insertable leaf portion being broken away at the upper left corner thereof to illustrate the position assumed by the leaves of the insertable leaf portion when in place.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the base plate, with the slidably insertabl-e holder in the position it normally retains when closed and in use.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the card holder as it appears when removed from the base plate shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View of the leaves of the insertable portion, particularly il1ustrating the plurality of holes or apertures in the front leaf which, when inserted in the holder, fall into registry with the similar holes or apertures in the flange of the back plate or holder.

As shown on the drawing: 7

The numeral I indicates the back plate or holder, preferably formed of a single sheet of metal stamped to the shape herein indicated. The numeral 2 indicates the offset end portions of the base plate forming shoulders and having holes 3 formed therein through which screws, nails or the like may be inserted to fasten the base plate to the desired object.

The numeral l indicates the pair of flanges parallel to one another formed by bending a part of the base plate forward then backward upon itself, parallel with the main portion of the base plate in a relatively uniform spaced relation thereto thereby forming retaining guides. A plurality of holes or apertures, indicated by the numeral 5, may be formed in one or both flanges 4 for the purposes hereinafter set forth.

The numeral 6 indicates the bottom leaf of the removable card holder, which is preferably formed of a single sheet of metal, bent as shown in Fig. 4, upward and backward upon itself, and bent at a sharp angle at one end. to form a projection, lip or finger hold 6a, and also forming an upper leaf 6b in a plane above the lower leaf 6. The extreme outer end of leaf 6b is bent perpendicular to the face of the same forming a catch lip or angular projection 60 adapted to engage the ends of flanges 4 to releasably retain the card holder in place when the same is completely inserted in plate 1,. The numeral 1 indicates the card which is normally impinged and retained between plates or leaves 6 and 6b.

It will be noted that the construction of the card holder shown in Fig. 4 is such that one end of the card I is impinged between the leaves 6 and 6b even when the holder is removed from the back plate. This is due to the tendency of the leaves fastened together substantially as shown to fit closely together at one edge, effectively retaining the card.

As shown in Fig. 5, the front leaf 6b has a plurality of apertures 8 formed therein adapted to fall into registry with the similar apertures 5 in guide flange 4, when the insertable portion is placed in the base or holder.

When it is necessary to put a defect card on a car having one of these card holders thereon, pressure must be exerted against the outer face of leaf 6b forcing the catch or protrusion 60 back to the plane of the internal walls of flanges 4 in plate I. An outward pull exerted on finger-hold 6a will then permit the holder to be removed.

The leaves 6 and 6b will, due to their construction, then assume a position toward one another substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The leaves may be spread farther apart, if desired, for insertion of the card, or the card may be forced between the leaves and impinged thereby.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the flanges 4 do not entirely extend to the shoulder formed where the ends 2 are offset at one end of plate I, although they do at the other end. The purpose of this construction is to form a back portion serving as guide and base to allow the leaves 6 and 6b to be pressed thereagainst when the card holder is inserted in the back plate.

When the card holder is completely inserted the relative parts will assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 2, the outwardly bent end 60 of leaf 6b springing out beyond the outer edges of flanges 4, preventing the card holder from being shaken out of the base plate or withdrawn without coincident pressure on the face of leaf 6b and an outward pull upon fingerhold Ba.

It will be obvious that when a card is inserted between leaves 6 and 6b it will show through apertures or holes 8 in leaf 6b, and that when fully inserted in back plate I, apertures or holes 8 and being then in registry with holes or apertures 5, it will be. immediately apparent whether or not there is a card in the holder.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention herein specifically described without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention or any features thereof, and nothing herein shall be construed as limitations upon the invention, its concept or structural embodiment as to the whole or any part thereof except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a card holder the combination of a base plate, a pair of integral guide flanges extending forwardly therefrom in parallel relation on opposite sides of said base plate and an insertable member adapted to be slidably retained by said guide flanges, a fingerhold, and a transverse protruding lip on said insertable member, said transverse lip adapted to over-extend said guide flanges when said insertable member is fully inserted in said base plate, and to retain said insertable member therein.

2. In an article of the described class the combination of a plate, a pair of integral guide flanges formed in parallel relation to one another on the face of said plate, an insertable member adapted to be removably retained in said guide flanges, said insertable member over-extending said guide flanges when inserted, a flngerhold and a catch formed integral with the face of said insertable member, said catch passing beyond the termination of said guide flanges when inserted and adapted to retain said insertable member fixedly but removably in said guide flanges on said plate.

3. In a holder for cards and the like, the combination of a base plate, a pair of parallel guide flanges formed integral therewith, a slidably insertable member adapted to impinge a card, an outwardly extending finger hold formed integral with one end of said insertable member, an outwardly extending catch formed integral with said insertable member on an end opposite said finger hold, said insertable member adapted to over-extend said guide flanges when inserted whereby said catch will engage the ends of said guide flanges and whereby the ends of the insertable member bearing the catch must be depressedto remove said insertable member from said base plate.

4. In a holder for cards and the like, the combination of a base plate, a pair of olf-set shoulders formed integral therewith, said shoulders adapted to be fastened to a rigid mounting, a pair of parallel guide flanges formed integral with said base plate and terminating substantially at said off-set shoulders, an insertable member adapted to be retained by said parallel flanges on said base and to retain a card therein, a finger-hold at one end of said insertable member and a yieldable catch at the opposite end thereof; said catch adapted to over-extend the guide flanges on said base plate and to releasably retain said insertable member in said base plate.

5. In a holder for cards and the like, the combination of a holder adapted to be fixedly placed on a mounting, a pair of parallel lateral guide flanges formed integral therewith and having a plurality of apertures therein, an insertable member having a plurality of apertures therein adapted to fall substantially into registry with the apertures in said guide flanges when said insertable member is in normally retained position, a finger-hold formed integral with said insertable member at one end thereof and a depressible catch at the opposite end thereof adapted to overextend said guide flanges and to releasably lock said insertable member in said base holder.

6. In a device of the character described, a base plate having a pair of longitudinal parallel guide flanges formed integral therewith, said guide flanges having a plurality of apertures therein, an insertable member comprising a pair of leaves, one above another, the upper leaf having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to fall into registry with the apertures in said base plate when said leaves are inserted, a fingerhold at one end of said insertable member and a lip extending perpendicular to said upper leaf and adapted to releasably retain said insertable member in said holder.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plate forming a holder, a pair of oppositely disposed shoulder portions at both ends thereof adapted to be fastened to a mounting, a pair of guide flanges formed integral with said plate and in relatively spaced relation thereto, said guide flanges adapted to receive an insertable member, an insertable member having integral leaves one above the other, a projection at one end of said leaves adapted to form a fingerhold, and a depressible angular projection on the upper leaf adapted to form a catch releasably locking said insertable member in said plate.

8. In a device of the class described, a plate forming a housing, rearwardly off-set shoulders at opposite ends thereof forming end bases adapted to be fastened to a mounting, a pair of parallel guide flanges having a plurality of apertures therein formed on said plate, said guide flanges extending substantially the length of said plate, an insertable member consisting of a plurality of integral leaves fastened together at one end thereof, the topmost leaf having a plurality of apertures therein adapted to fall into registry with the apertures in said guide flanges when the leaves are inserted, a substantially elongated projection on said insertable member forming a finger-hold, and a lip formed on said topmost leaf forming a catch and adapted to releasably retain said insertable member in said guide flanges.

9. In a device of the described class, the combination of a plate forming a base and adapted to be fixedly mounted, a pair of guide flanges thereon adapted to receive an insertable member therebehind, an insertable card retaining member consisting of a single piece of metal bent backward upon itself forming a card retaining cover, consisting of a pair of leaves, said leaves being adapted to impinge a card placed therebetween, and a projection formed on one of said leaves forming a catch adapted to releasably retain said insertable card retaining member in said base.

10. In a device of the described class, the combination of a base having a pair of parallel guide flanges formed integral therewith, said flanges terminating at one end substantially distanced from one lateral edge of said base and terminating at the opposite end substantially at the other lateral edge thereof, a pair of leaves forming an insertable member fastened together one above the other at one edge thereof adapted to impinge a card placed therebetween and to be removably insertable in the guide flanges on said base, and a depressible projection at one end of said leaves forming a catch adapted to releasably retain said leaves in said base.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a holder consisting of a single sheet of metal bent rearwardly forming off-set shoulders and ends parallel to the face plane of said holder adapted to form a pair of bases for fastening to a mounting, said sheet of metal having parallel edges bent perpendicularly to the face thereof and forwardly forming a pair of parallel guide flanges having a plurality of apertures therein, said flanges adapted to receive an insertable member, an insertable member consisting of a single elongated sheet of metal bent back upon itself and forming a pair of leaves placed one above the other and in relatively spaced relation to one another at their outmost ends, a projection forming a finger-hold at the fixed end of said leaves, the uppermost leaf having a plurality of apertures formed therein adapted to fall into registry with the apertures in the guide flanges in said holder, and a projection on the free end of said uppermost leaf extending beyond said guide flanges and adapted to form a releasable catch retaining said leaves in said holder.

EDMUND R. BRAUN. 

